7 Aug Daily Shipmate

Thursday, Aug 7, 2025

1789 - The first United States Congress, convened under the new Constitution, passes a bill establishing the Department of War and assigning responsibility for the nation's naval affairs to the Secretary of War.

 

1964 - Congress overwhelmingly passes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson virtually unlimited authority to conduct military operations in Vietnam.

 

2009 - CAPT Matthew Freeman '02, USMC was killed in action during a firefight with Afghani insurgents. A third-generation naval aviator – his grandfather and father were both pilots – he had volunteered for an individual augmentation position with the Fourth Marines Embedded Training Team. Prior to this he had served as aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. Matthew was survived by his wife, parents, two sisters, and brother.

Academy & Graduate happenings

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Service Academy Exchange program…when we sent a first batch of brave prisoners to study at West Point for a semester.  Shipmate wants to share the stories of Naval Academy alumni who participated in the program. To share your memories, please contact Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts at [email protected].

Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett relinquished command of Navy Region Hawaii to Rear Adm. Brad Collins '92 during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aug. 5, 2025. Collins arrives in Hawaii after serving as Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT). Collins, a native of Lake Forest, California, will now oversee the U.S. Navy's largest and most strategic island base in the Pacific, which serves as the host for the headquarters of seven major Navy commands, including the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commander, Navy Region Hawaii is the regional coordinator for all shore-based Navy personnel and shore activities in Hawaii - as well as the Navy's representative to the Hawaii community. Today, the Navy in Hawaii has grown into a major fleet concentration area. The Navy has the largest military presence in Hawaii and contributes more than $2 billion annually to the local economy.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department will officially unveil its new “HERO Patrol Car” to prevent drunk driving at ceremonies to be held Thursday, August 28, 12 p.m. at the Bay Dale Shopping Center in Arnold, MD. The car represents the department's partnership with the non-profit John R. Elliott HERO Campaign and its mission to prevent drunk driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. The Ford Explorer is the 2nd HERO Cruiser to be dedicated outside of the campaign's home state of New Jersey, and the 33rd overall. The first, by the Annapolis Police Dept., was dedicated last August in ceremonies held at the U.S. Naval Academy. The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers was established by the family of Navy Ensign John Elliott '00 of Egg Harbor Twp., NJ, after he was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown on July 22, 2000, two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was driving home to the Jersey Shore from Annapolis for his mother's birthday at the time of his death. Ensign Elliott was named the Outstanding HERO of his graduating class at the Naval Academy and was preparing to enter Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fla. that fall.

August is National Make-A-Will Month and a meaningful time to reflect on the legacy each of us will leave behind. The Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation has created a free Estate Planning Checklist to help guide that process and inspire support for future generations of midshipmen. Please consider sharing this resource with others in your community who care deeply about the mission and values of the Academy.

Government & Military News

U.S. warships are joining the U.K. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Japan's Kaga Task Group to drill in the Philippine Sea this week. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group and amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) will train alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and components from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy and Spanish Navy through Aug. 12, according to a JMSDF news release. The goal of the nine-day exercise, the JMSDF said Tuesday, is to “realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” as well as to improve tactical capabilities and strengthen cooperation between the participating navies.

Charlotte will host the 8th CISM Military World Summer Games June 25–July 4, 2027, marking the first time the event is held in the U.S. The Games, which are expected to gather roughly 10,000 military athletes from over 140 nations, will be among Charlotte's largest-ever events and a major U.S. first. Earlier this year, CISM awarded the Games to the United States with Charlotte as the host city. Military athletes will compete in more than 30 traditional Olympic sports, like swimming, to military-specific events, like parachuting.

Local, Education & other academy news

The Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC) and the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation today announced the establishment of the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment for the Falcon football program in honor of former head coach Fisher DeBerry. AFAAC and the Association & Foundation will collaborate to raise an initial $2.5 million for the DeBerry Endowment, which will support top priorities of the football program. "This is an important time for Air Force Football, and the need for private investment has never been greater," said Air Force Director of Athletics Nathan Pine.

Turner Construction Company marked a major milestone in the renovation of the historic Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York by celebrating the topping out of the new east stands. The topping out, a traditional event that signifies the completion of the highest structural element, underscores continued progress on the transformation of the 36,000-seat stadium, home to the Army Black Knights for the past 101 years. The modernization of the east stands will offer fans an enhanced game-day experience, with a full 360-degree view of the playing field and the sweeping Hudson Valley landscape. “We are proud to reach this key milestone at such a storied venue,” said Luigi Morfea, Construction Executive, Turner Construction Company.

The calendar has turned to August, and that means later this month AA&F will be hosting it's first reunions for Navy Football Season. We welcome the Link in the Chain classes of 1960 and 2010 for their reunions at the end of the month for the VMI game. At AA&F, one of our missions is to support lifelong connections. Reunions are an important part of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation's (USNA AA&F) mission of helping Academy alumni, family and friends maintain lifetime connections to the Academy, its traditions and each other. We are happy to help classes plan their reunions in any way that we can. Wendy Owen, director of Alumni Class Programs, is standing by to assist with reunion planning from your first reunion committee meeting to the final execution of your events. Please contact Wendy at 410-295-4017 or send an email to [email protected] to start your planning now! Check out our new Reunion page on the new usna.com here.

A new book by a local Newport, RI, author and businessman, Robert Mastin '72, titled Liberty Call: When Newport Was Home to the Atlantic Fleet, has just been released. This full-color, 240-page coffee-table book tells the story of Newport when it was a rough-and-tumble sailor town catering to the thousands of sailors and marines serving aboard the warships of the Atlantic Fleet. The book is available at Custom House Coffee, local bookstores, and online.

USNA and AA&F Events

AUGUST

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

8-10 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend

9 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend Formal Parade - 8:30 a.m.

9 Aug - Blue & Gold kick-off BBQ - N/MCMS

14 Aug - USNI Accelerating Unmanned Panel and Reception, Annapolis

15 Aug - 2 for 7 Signing - Class of 2027

18 Aug - USNA Classes begin

19 Aug - Class of 2027 Commitment Lunch

21-22 Aug - SACC San Diego

22 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing Starting Gun Reception: Severn Sailing Association - 6 p.m.

23 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing In-brief, race and Sail Navy Banquet

24 Aug - Annapolis 10 Miler - Run to Honor is a charity partner

28 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Kickoff Dinner w/ Football Coaching Staff

28-31 Aug - Class of 2010 15th Reunion

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 65th Reunion

29 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Fallen Brothers Golf Classic & Evening Social

30 Aug - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for VMI - (9-11 a.m.)

30 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Tailgater, NMCMS

30 Aug - A&SP/NAAA Trustee Appreciation Pre-Game Breakfast - Navy vs. VMI

30 Aug - Navy vs VMI, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD - 12 p.m.

 

SEPTEMBER

4 Sep - Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) Medal Ceremony - Alumni Hall, 4:30 p.m.

4-6 Sep - Class of 2000 25th Reunion

6 Sep - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for UAB - (Noon-2 p.m.)

6 Sep - Navy Football vs University of Alabama Birmingham, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

11 Sep - OKC Chapter + NAPC of Oklahoma Roadshow - 5:30- 7:30 p.m. - Jones Assembly - 901 W Sheridan Ave, OKC

12 Sep - Tulsa Chapter Event & Roadshow - 6 p.m. - Marshall's Brewery - 1742 E 6th Street, Tulsa

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

14 Sep - Annapolis Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

18 Sep - 20th Anniversary of the opening of the Uriah P. Levy Center at USNA

18-19 Sep - McMullen Naval History Symposium - USNA

18-21 Sep - Class of 1985 - 40th Reunion

19 Sep - USNI Dudley Knox Achievement Award Reception

25-27 Sep - Class of 2020 5th Reunion

26 Sep - Class of 2020 Happy Hour - Fluegel Alumni Center

26 Sep - Council of Annual Giving meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

27 Sep - Navy Football vs Rice, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

 

OCTOBER

1-22 Oct - Class of '75 Gulf to Goat Charity Bike Ride

2 Oct - President Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - President Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 2015 10th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 30th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 35th Reunion

4 Oct - Navy Football vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

9-16 Oct - Celebrating The Navy and Marine Corps' 250th Anniversary - Philadelphia

10 Oct - USNA Founder's Day - 180th Birthday of the Naval Academy

10 Oct - Army-Navy Cup XIV - Soccer doubleheader vs Army at Subaru Park, Philadelphia. Women's Match - 4 p.m., Men's Match at 7 p.m.

11 Oct - Navy Football @ Temple, Lincoln Financial Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

13 Oct - U.S. Navy Birthday

13 Oct - Surface Navy Museum Grand Opening - Battleship Iowa - Los Angeles

23-26 Oct - Class of 2005 20th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 50th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 60th Reunion

24 Oct - Anchors Aweigh Open - Alumni Golf Tournament - Naval Academy Golf Course

25 Oct - Navy Football vs Florida Atlantic, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

25 Oct - United States Naval Academy Homecoming

25 Oct - Welcome Home Event, Fluegel Alumni Center

25-31 Oct - Eugene, Oregon Navy Week

26 Oct - USMC Marathon w/ Run to Honor SIG participating and presenting the Penguin Award to final finisher

 

NOVEMBER

1 Nov - Navy @ North Texas, DATCU Stadium, Denton TX

5-6 Nov - US Naval Academy Foundation Fall Board of Directors Reception/Meeting

6-9 Nov - Class of 1980 45th Reunion

8 Nov - Navy @ Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN - 7:30 p.m.

10 Nov - Marine Corps Birthday

10-16  Nov - Santa Fe, New Mexico Navy Week.

14 Nov - Run to Honor's annual pre-Honor Our Fallen Heroes Gathering (FAC) - 6:30 p.m. - Register

14 Nov - US Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Program Fall Meeting, NMCMS

15 Nov - Navy vs University of South Florida, NMCMS

15 Nov - Honor Our Fallen Heroes - Location TBD

17 Nov - Council of Class Presidents Fall meeting, Fluegel

18-19 Nov - US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Fall Meeting, Fluegel

19-20 Nov - SACC Chicago

27 Nov - Navy Football @ University of Memphis, Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN

 

DECEMBER

5/6 Dec - American Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

6 Dec - Distinguished Graduate Selection Committee Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

13 Dec - Army - Navy, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD